News
Nuwara Eliya landslide victims still living in camps
The 1,580 evacuees who were evacuated due to the danger of landslides in several areas of the Nuwara Eliya District are housed in camps where they are presently living in adverse conditions which include the cold weather.
Small relief: Evacuees watching a Tamil movie on TV
They were moved to 13 camps on October 30 due to the National Building Research Organisation cautioning about landslides in the areas they were living in.
The sympathy that was generated after the Koslande landslide resulted in a steady inflow of aid and donations for the evacuees, but now that generosity has been waning.
Today, the more than thousand evacuees have to depend entirely on the various Divisional Secretariats of Nuwara Eliya for all their daily needs. The daily upkeep of one person is reported to be Rs. 150. The total amount spent up till today (30)) is said to be Rs. 7,110,000.
Evacuees living in temporary ‘ Peak View’ houses in the Nuwara Eliya indoor stadium have to put up with freezing cold nights. (above and top)
The 13 camps are spread over the Divisional Secretariats of Nuwara Eliya, Kotmale, Walapane, Hanguranketa and Ambagamuwa.
No plan to relocate the evacuees has yet been drawn up and although the Nuwara Eliya District Secretariat has been providing the evacuees with all needs, living in large camps has proved to be an embarrassing ordeal for adults and children who were used to living in small family units. A significant number of students who are to sit the GCE O/L exam this year are also in these camps.
Nuwara Eliya District Secretary D.P.G. Kumarasiri said that decisions regarding the land to be allocated to the evacuees have been taken, but decisions regarding further action including the building of houses, are still in the process of being made.